The Bastard (Filthy Trilogy 1)

“No?”

“No. And you just kissed me to get information.”

“I kissed you because I couldn’t fucking help myself, and for the record, I don’t like what I can’t control.”

“You hate me. Stop kissing me.”

“I don’t hate you, Harper. I hate secrets and lies. What aren’t you telling me?”

“Like Gigi didn’t tell you? I know she told you.” I shove at his chest, a sudden need to have the clear head his body touching my body won’t give me.

His hands shackle my hips, the touch scorching, possessive. Controlling. “Tell me yourself.”

“I was supposed to offer you money. I didn’t. I refused.”

His eyes narrow, lips thin. “And why exactly didn’t you offer me money?”

“You don’t need it.”

“Is that right?” he asks, sounding amused.

“Yes, it is. You don’t need it, but that wasn’t the point. The point was that the man who came here for money, came here for financial gain, not to help his family.”

“These people are not my family. You are not my family.”

I recoil as if slapped. “I know how you feel about me. I get it. I just told you that. That princess thing is all about reminding me that we’re divided.”

“We’re only divided if you’re with them.”

“I’m trying to make my way, just like you did, Eric, but my mom is here and she’s made foolish decisions. That doesn’t make me love her less, though. If it were your mother—”

“I’d have gotten her out.”

“You think I haven’t tried? She’s a fool for your father and for the record, I fucked you. I kissed you. That doesn’t mean I can’t think beyond an orgasm. I won’t be a fool for you like she was for your father.” I shove on his chest. “Get off of me. Get back.”

“Is that what you really want? For me to back away? For me to get back on a plane and go away?”

“Like you’d do that now? You bought stock. You decided to take over.”

“You don’t take on a Kingston without leverage. I made sure I had leverage. To help you. You asked for help. I’m here. So, let me repeat this,” His hands settle on my face, his voice softening, “I came for you.”

Heat sears the air between us, a hot flash of desire fueled by how good we are naked together, by how much we really aren’t done with each other. “I’m afraid to trust you.”

“Good,” he says, pulling back to look at me, wicked heat in his eyes. “I haven’t earned that trust.”

“I haven’t earned yours either,” I say, and it’s not a question. “And I never will.”

“If I wasn’t willing to see beyond this family, I wouldn’t be here.”

“You’re here to ruin them, and me with them.”

“From what I’ve seen, and I’ve seen far more than Isaac thinks I’ve seen, you didn’t need me for that. I could have sat back with a bag of popcorn and watched the fun.”

Realization hits me. “You came because you knew you could take over. It wasn’t about saving us. It’s about getting what you always wanted.”

“Princess, I haven’t wanted or needed this place in a long time. I got out and got right like you should have.”

“I couldn’t. I told you that. I told you why. I would have left the legacy behind, if not for my mom. Seriously, what if it was your mother? Would you just leave? I don’t know why I’m telling you this.”